"Makes Me Smile" Monday

Everything looks better on a cake stand, don't you think ?!?!?!!!!

Happy (blueberry cake) Monday !

"Makes Me Smile" Monday

Oh, what beautiful weather we had this past weekend !

Summer . . . hopefully here to stay !

It started with flip-flops, freshly painted toes, and a

gauzy skirt (I wish everyday started like that !) . . .

. . . I finally bought some flora to fill the planters . . .

. . . and the pots . . .

. . . and the baskets on the barn doors . . . !

A little knitting was done on the porch

(where all summer activity takes place !) . . .

. . . the "Siren Song" sweater is almost done . . .

just the second sleeve to do !

There was trifle, too . . . full of strawberries and raspberries

and angel food cake and pudding and whipped cream . . . .

HEAVENLY !

And my favorite bundles o' fur, keeping watch over the yard !!

Hope you had a great weekend, too !

And here's hoping another one just like it is coming right up . . . !

Happy Monday !

"Makes Me Smile" Monday

This little piece of pottery has been holding my

kitchen utensils for almost 13 years now . . .

it was a wedding gift from one of Jack's friends.

So I'm a bit excited about pottery this week . . .

since I'm starting a pottery class tomorrow night !!!!

It's just a 5-week course . . . but I can't wait to give it a try !

The quest continues to turn those "I've always wanted to . . . "

statements into "Guess what I'm doing . . . !" !!!

Happy Monday !

An Aspiration Indeed

"She made celebrations of things he had always dismissed as moments to

be rushed through on the way to something more important."

"Being around her, he found even everyday experiences were deeper,

nuanced, satisfaction and awareness slipped in between the

layers of life like love notes hidden in the pages of a textbook."

- Erica Bauermeister, "The School of Essential Ingredients"

"Makes Me Smile" Monday

"Come, let us have some tea

and continue to talk about happy things"

- Chaim Potok -

During yesterday's freezing & windy weather, I unearthed one of favorite (yet sorely underused!) belongings . . . . my teapot from Israel !!!

That 2-week trip was a priceless experience for me . . . and I can't believe it's been 15 years already !!! I knew it would be a once-in-a-lifetime thing, and I wanted to bring home something that would have meaning, and be useful, and truly last. So while my classmates were buying traditional clothing and jewelry and such, I came home with my teapot (and 2 demitasse cups, too !) !!

I don't drink tea as much as I once did . . . tends to stain the teeth, which isn't necessarily a good thing for a dental office manager ! But on a cold, blustery Sunday, it was the perfect thing to warm both body and soul !

Happy Monday !